Slot-type air fixture for a ceiling ventilating-lighting system



Feb. 16, 1965 L. A. ARCHER 3,169,467

SLOT-TYPE AIR FIXTURE FOR A CEILING VENTILATINGLIGHTING SYSTEM Filed June 5, 1962 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I L N I IJJIJ [/1 4 5 f1 INVENTOR lee Jra%er BY 5 hm; radk ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1965 1.. A. ARCHER 3,169,467

SLOT-TYPE AIR FIXTURE FOR A CEILING VENTILATING-LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed June 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. lee JZ zgrzafe BY flay A TTORNE YS Feb. 16, 1965 L. A. ARCHER 3,169,467

SLOT-TYPE AIR FIXTURE FOR A CEILING VENTILATING-LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed June 5 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I r '1 I I l I I I 7 1/ /A I J/ 1 1 l 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 Q1 A TTORNE YS Feb. 16, 1965 L. A. ARCHER 3,169,467

SLOT-TYPE AIR FIXTURE FOR A CEILING VENTILATING-LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed June 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. E 9. 7 lee $176187 BY 1 g: ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,159,467 Patented Feb. 16, 1955 3,169,467 SLOT-TYPE AIR FIXTURE FOR A CEILING VENTILATING-LIGHTING SYSTEM Lee A. Archer, Wheaten, lll., assignor to The Pyle- National Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 5, 1962, Ser. No. 209,162 6 Claims. (Ci. 98-49) This invention relates to ventilating systems and lighting systems and more particularly relates to a slot-type air fixture for use in a ceiling construction of the type wherein ventilating air is distributed and illumination is emitted from the ceiling of the room.

In many architectural constructions, it is contemplated to provide a so-called false ceiling wherein fluorescent troffer lights are mounted in the ceiling with the troffer housing recessed into the space behind the false ceiling.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, it is contemplated that a fixture may be located between such noifer housings forming an elongated narrow slot opening through the false ceiling between the trofier lights. By connecting appropriate components of a ventilating system to the slot-forming fixture, the slot can be employed either as an air return or as an air supply. a

More specifically, the trolfer housing may include Wall means having the special fixture formed as a part thereof near the outermost extremities, thereby to locate the elongated slot in the false ceiling. A plenum chamber is then located on top of the slot-forming fixture and the plenum chamber may be formed with a suitable valveeontrol opening. It is contemplated by the present invention that the limited space in which the slot-forming fixture must be located can be advantageously utilized by the provision of an elliptical opening in which is located a special elliptical valve including two curvately bent vanes pivotally carried on a pivot pin and actuated by a camming member adjustably positioned by an actuator member having a portion extending towards the slot for adjustment from the room being illuminated and ventilated.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a slot-type ventilating means which can be incorporated in a ceiling construction utilizing fluorescent troffer lights.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slot-forming air fixture having a valve control which is particularly suited for adaptation to a confined space.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved elliptical valve fora ventilating apparatus.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved trotfer housing having separate slottype air outlets on opposite sides thereof wherein the functions of air distribution and light emission are accomplished in a single fixture but wherein the air flow and the light emission is physically independent.

Many other objects, features and additional advantages of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets or" drawings in which a preferred structural form of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a false ceiling of an architectural structure incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a line profile illustrating how the principles of the present invention can accommodate installation Where there is limited head room;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a combined lighting and ventilating unit provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the combined unit of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally on line V-V of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the construction shown in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line VII-VII of FIGURE 6.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of the present invention are of particular utility when utilized in a ceiling ventilating-lighting system. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 1, the main ceiling of an architectural structure is illustrated at 19 and a sub-ceiling or false ceiling 11 is provided which is spaced below the main ceiling 10, thereby providing a space into which may extend a primary air duct 12 of a ventilating system.

The false ceiling 11 may have formed therein a plurality of openings 13 and in each of the openings a combination lighting-ventilating unit of the present invention may be inserted, which combination ventilating-lighting units are indicated generally at 14. Ventilating air from the primary air duct 12 may be conducted to each respective unit 14 by means of a flexible conduit 16.

One of the specific features of the present invention resides in the provision of a unit which requires very little head room. Accordingly, as shown in the line profile of FIGURE Zthere may be provided a troffer light housing 17 of the glass bottomed variety wherein rays of light are dilfused through a diffusion member 18 extending across the bottom of the trough and disposed as a continuation of the ceiling surface provided by the false ceiling 11.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an air fixture shown generally at 20 forms a narrow elongated slot which extends longitudinally adjacent the trofi'fer housing 17. Conduit means are connected to the fixture 20 for placing the fixture 29 into a ventilating system either as an air outlet or an air return.

As shown in FIGURE '2, the fixture 20 may include a plenum chamber shown generally at 21 and including a wall 22 forming an elliptical opening controlled by an elliptical valve provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention which facilitates attachment to a flexible conduit such as the conduit 16 in an extremely compact space and without requiring any additional head room. Further, if fixtures 20 are provided on opposite sides of the trofier housing 17, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the plenum chambers 21, 21 may be interconnected by a cross member or cross conduit 23, thus permitting a single inlet to supply air to both plenum chambers 21, 21.

Referring now to FIGURES 3-7, the constructional details of the unit 14 may be explained.

The unit 14 comprises a trolfer light housing indicated generally at 26 and including a top wall 27 and side walls 28 which together form a trough-shaped article forming an elongated light trough 29 in which are contained one or more fluorescent light tubes 30 mounted in electrical sockets 31.

The particular form of trailer light unit 14 illustrated herein is of the so-called glass-bottom-type wherein a diffuser 31 closes the open side of the lighting trough 29. The diffuser 31 may conveniently comprise a sheet form article made of glass or plastic or other material capable of transmitting light rays. It will be understood, of course, that other forms of troifer light units could be used, for example, troiier lights having egg-crate diffusion means or other specific forms of internal light-reflecting means. a I I In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the fixture 20 is located at the lowermost extremity of one or both of the side walls 28. Thus, there is provided a locking member 32 having a hook 33 facing outwardly and a flange 34 which overlies an outer edge 36 of the wall 28 and permits the fitting 32 to be placed in firm assembly with the wall 28 by means of fasteners such as rivets 37.,

The fitting 32 also has a wall flange '38 which is disposed uprightly.

In order to retain the diffuser 31, there is provided a bracket part 39 having spaced flanges 49, 49 together forming a recess for receiving the edges of the diffuser 31. The bracket further includes an upright wall portion 41 terminating in a hook 42 adapted to be engaged and retained by the hook 33 on the fitting 32 The air fixture 20 may comprise an extrusion which includes a wall member 43 disposed uprightly in spaced relation to the flange 38 and the wall portion 41. There is thus formed a narrow elongated slot 46 essentially coextensive in length with the trolfer light unit 14, although not necessarily a part of the trotfer. The slot 46 has a mouth 47 which is formed at the level of the false ceiling and which is prescribed by the lowermost portions of the wall 43 and the wall 41. The extrusion may be perforated at discreet areas where the slot diffuser is snapped on as by the spring fingers 44.

The wall 43 is flanged as at 48 thereby to facilitate mounting of the fixture 20 on a T runner 49 used as a part of the false ceiling construction and which may include materials for effecting an architectural treatment of the ceiling such as acoustical tile or the like shown at 50. e

As shown in FIGURES 2-5, the plenum chamber 21 has a wall 22 and a wall 51 which are spaced apart from one another by a widest spacing dimension at the area of the elliptical inlet and which walls are disposed to con verge towards one another on opposite sides of the inlet, terminating at an outer end where the walls 22 and 51 merge as at 52. The space between the walls 22 and 52 is bridged by an upper wall 53 so that the walls 22, 51, 53 together with one another form an enclosed plenum chamber 54 in communication with the slot 46 and superjacent a substantial length of the slot 46.

The elliptical inlet is formed by a section of pipe or duct 56 which projects laterally outwardly of the wall 22 and as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, the major axis of the ellipse is disposed generally horizontally, while the minor axis of the ellipse is disposed vertically.

A pivot pin 57 is carried by the pipe 56 and is disposed on the centerline of the ellipsoid thereby bisecting the major axis of the ellipse and being disposed on the minor axis thereof.

Pivotally carried on the pivot pin 57 are two vane-type valve elements each being of similar construction and each being identified by a single reference numeral 58, In development, the two vane-type valve elements 58, 58 are generally triangularin overall configuration but are bent into a curved shape, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, to provide a lower apical portion 59 and an upper apical portion 60 each in register with the other and suitably apertured as at 61 to facilitate the formation therein of a bearing area, thereby effecting a journal mounting of the vane-type valve elements on the pivot pin 57. a

Each of the vane'elements 58 has a curvately ex tending body portion which extends outwardly from the pivot pin 57 generally comparable in curvature to the curvature of the ellipsoid inlet 56. Each valve element 58 has a forward edge shown at 62 and a curved rearward edge 63 which, in effect, forms a camming edge for engagement with a valve actuator shown generally at 64.

More specifically, the valve actuator64 comprises a sheet form member having two angularly ofiset leg portions 66 and 67, respectively.

The leg 66 has a portion formed at one end providing a hinge for pivotal connection to a pivot 68 carried on a bottom wall 69 of the plenum chamber 21. Thus, the leg 66 extends upwardly and inwardly relative to the plenum chamber 54 and the offset camming leg 67 extends towards the valve elements 58, 58. In this connection, the camming leg 67 is provided with an irregularly-shaped fnont edge forming a first camming surface 70, an intermediate recess 71 and a second camming edge or surface 72. The camming edges or surfaces 70 and 72 engage the respective valve elements '58, 58 and the recess 71 provides a clearance to avoid interference with the pivot pin 61.

To pivotally displace the actuator member 64 about the pivot. axis 68, an actuating screw 74 is threadedly carried in a bracket 76 at the bottom of the plenum member 21 and has a head portion 77 extending intothe slot 46,"thereby facilitating manipulation of the screw actuator 74 from the room being illuminated and ventilated through the slot 46. Upon threadedly advancing or retracting thescrew actuator 74, the action end of the actuator 74 and, as shown at 78, engages the leg 66 and pivotally adjusts the same about the pivot axis 68. The camming surfaces or edges 70 and 72 engage the edges 63, 63, of the valve elements 58, 58, thereby displacing the valve elements about the axis of the pivot pin 61 and the degree of opening in the inlet 56 will be selectively adjusted at the discretion of the operator.

The valve elements 58, 58 are normally pre-loaded towards a closed position by a torsion spring 90 encircling the pivot pin 57 and including two arms 91 and 92 each engaged against a corresponding vane.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the amount of air handled by the particular fixture can thus be adjusted, for example, if it is necessary to balance the individual unit as a part of an overall ventilating system, or if it is desired to adjust the capacity of the individual unit.

Disposed within the mouth of the slot 46 are a plurality of deflector baffles 86 which may conveniently be formed by a bent member shaped to. provide a series of longitudinally spaced cross pieces functioning as baffles and most clearly shown in FIGURE 7. The bafiles 80 operate to control endwise velocity components in connection with the outward distribution of air through the slot 46 when the fixture 20 is used as an air outlet.

Any single plenum 21 may be operated as a part of a ventilating system associated with an illuminated ceiling construction. However, if desired, two units may be employed, one on each side of the troffer light housing 26 in which event two plenum units may be interconnected by the cross conduit 23. In this connection, an appropriate opening is formed in the wall 51 and the cross conduit 23 is connected to the plenum unit 21 by a plurality of fasteners 82 (FIGURE 5).

There is thus provided a unit which requires a minimum of head room and wherein the air system connectionv can be made by means of a lateral coupling on the elliptical inlet 56,

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A slot diffuser for combination with a ceiling to be ventilated and illuminated, and a fluorescent troffer light having side walls, comprising,

an elongated air fixture on each side of said troffer light each being co-extensive in length with said troffer light and each having end walls and an outer longitudinal wall member extending therebetween and disposed uprightly,

and an inner wall having locking means for engaging and supporting the corresponding side wall of said troffer light,

means forming a plenum chamber superjacent each said air fixture,

said outer and inner wall of said air fixture together with one another forming a narrow elongated slot at the uppermost portions of said air fixture,

snap-coupling means interconnecting each corresponding plenum chamber and said air fixture at said slot.

means for mounting each said air fixture in the ceiling comprising a fiange at the lower portions of said outer wall for engagement with a ceiling support structure,

thereby to support and carry both the air fixture and the trofier light in the ceiling,

and a cross conduit interconnecting said plenum chambers and bridging said trofier light, I

one of said plenum chambers having an air inlet formed in a side Wall thereof for connection to a source of ventilating air at increased pressure,

and valve means in said inlet or regulating the flow of air into said plenum chambers and through said air fixtures.

2. A slot diffuser as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means includes an actuator extending downwardly through said slot and into said air fixtures and including tool-engaging means accessible through said air fixture from the space being ventilated to adjust the air flow through said air fixtures.

3. In combination with the ceiling of a room to be illuminated and ventilated,

a ceiling having an opening formed therein,

a trofier light housing in said opening and having wall means extending upwardly behind the ceiling to form the lighting trough,

said wall means including at the lowermost extremity thereof an air fixture having upstanding side and end walls forming an elongated narrow slot extending longitudinally and outwardly adjacent the tnoffer light housing.

and air conduit means in the space behind the ceiling connected to said air fixture to deliver air to said slot,

whereby light is emitted out of the trough and air can be either supplied or returned through the slot adjacent the trough,

said air conduit means comprising a wall having an elliptical opening therein,

a pivot pin carried by said conduit means and mounted in said opening to have its axis essentially bisecting the opening,

a pair of generally triangular sheet form valve elements each curvately bent to form vanes having two apical portions in coaxial register,

said two apical portions having openings formed therein through which said pivot pin passes,

said vanes being positioned on opposite sides of said pivot pin,

a torsion spring between said vanes and said pin loading said vanes outwardly towards a valve closing position,

a cam member comprising a sheet form member having two angularly ofiset legs,

pivot means connecting'one of said legs to said air conduit means adjacent said opening for pivotal movement on an axis transverse to said pivot pin,

the other leg extending towards said pivot pin and and having a camming edge formed thereon engageable with a confronting edge of each of said vanes,

and means for'adjustably pivoting said cam member,

thereby to selectively vary the position of said vane members in said opening.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, said means for adjustably positioning said cam member comprising a bracket carried by said conduit means and actuator screw threaded in said bracket and 7 having one end engaging said one of said legs and having its opposite end extending into register with said slot to facilitate manipulation thereof from said room through said slotvto adjust the valve.

5. In combination with the ceiling of a room to be illuminated and ventilated,

a ceiling having an opening -formed therein,

a troffer light housing in said opening and having wall means extending upwardly behind the ceiling to form the lighting trough,

said wall means including at the lowermost extremities on opposite sides thereof of a fitting forming an elongated narrow slot extending longitudinally and outwardly adjacent each side of the trolfer light housing,

and air conduit means in the space behind the ceiling connected to said slots,

whereby light is emitted out of the trough and air can be either supplied or returned through the slots adjacent the trough,

said air conduit means comprising a plenum chamber superjacent each slot,

a crossover conduit above said trotfer light housing interconnecting said plenum chambers,

and means forming Ian opening in at least one of said plenum chambers for communicating the plenum chambers with a ventilating system,

said one of said plenum chambers has a wall forming said opening as an elliptical duct, a pivot pin,

said duct having openings to receive and support said pivot pin with its axis essentially bisecting the opena pair of generally triangular sheet form valve elements each curvately bent to form vanes having two apical portions in coaxial register,

said apical portions having openings formed therein thnough which said pivot pin passes,

said vanes being positioned on opposite sides of said pivot pin, 7

a torsion spring between said vanes and said pin loading said vanes outwardly towards a valve-closing position,

a cam member comprising a sheet form member havin g two angularly otiset legs,

means pivotally connecting one of said legs to said air conduit means for pivotal movement on an axis transverse to said pivot pin,

the other leg extending towards said pivot pin and having a camming edge formed therein engageable with a confronting edge of each of said vanes,

and means for adjustably pivoting said cam member,

thereby to selectively vary the position of said vane members in said opening.

6. In a ventilating fixture,

a wall having an elliptical opening therein,

a pivot pin,

means in said wall carrying said pivot pin in said opening with its axis essentially bisecting-the opena pair of generally triangular sheet form valve elements each curvately bent to form vanes having two apertured apical portions in coaxial register through which the pivot pin passes,

said vanes being positioned on opposite sides of said pivot pin,

a torsion spring between said vanes and said pin 7 8 loading said vanes outwardly towards a valve-closing thereby to selectively vary the position of said vane position, members in said opening. a cam member comprising a sheet form member hav- 7 ing two angulariy oifset legs, References Cited by the Examiner means connecting one of said legs to said air 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS conduit means for ivotal movement on an axis transverse to said ig/ t pin 7 1\"latfingly X the other leg extending towards said pivot pin 2:991:703 7/ 51 Falk 93-40 and having a camming edge formed thereon en- 3,072,038 1/63 Phillips 984O gageable with a confronting edge of each of 10 3,103,156 9/63 Quin 98-40 said vanes, and means for adjustably pivoting said cam member, ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SLOT DIFFUSER FOR COMBINATION WITH A CEILING TO BE VENTILATED AND ILLUMINATED, AND A FLUORESCENT TROFFER LIGHT HAVING SIDE WALLS, COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED AIR FIXTURE ON EACH SIDE OF SAID TROFFER LIGHT EACH BEING CO-EXTENSIVE IN LENGTH WITH SAID TROFFER LIGHT AND EACH HAVING END WALLS AND AN OUTER LONGITUDINAL WALL MEMBER EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN AND DISPOSED UPRIGHTLY, AND AN INNER WALL HAVING LOCKING MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING THE CORRESPONDING SIDE WALL OF SAID TROFFER LIGHT, MEANS FORMING A PLENUM CHAMBER SUPERJACENT EACH SAID AIR FIXTURE, SAID OUTER AND INNER WALL OF SAID AIR FIXTURE TOGETHER WITH ONE ANOTHER FORMING A NARROW ELONGATED SLOT AT THE UPPERMOST PORTIONS OF SAID AIR FIXTURE, SNAP-COUPLING MEANS INTERCONNECTING EACH CORRESPONDING PLENUM CHAMBER AND SAID AIR FIXTURE AT SAID SLOT. MEANS FOR MOUNTING EACH SAID AIR FIXTURE IN THE CEILING COMPRISING A FLANGE AT THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID OUTER WALL FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A CEILING SUPPORT STRUCTURE, THEREBY TO SUPPORT AND CARRY BOTH THE AIR FIXTURE AND THE TROFFER LIGHT IN THE CEILING, AND A CROSS CONDUIT INTERCONNECTING SAID PLENUM CHAMBERS AND BRIDGING SAID TROFFER LIGHT, ONE OF SAID PLENUM CHAMBERS HAVING AN AIR INLET FORMED IN A SIDE WALL THEREOF FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF VENTILATING AIR AT INCREASED PRESSURE, AND VALVE MEANS IN SAID INLET OR REGULATING THE FLOW OF AIR INTO SAID PLENUM CHAMBERS AND THROUGH SAID AIR FIXTURES. 